Liberia: Grand Gedeh residents receive aid

26-11-2003 News Release 03/149

On 25 November, for the first time since the end of the Liberian civil war, a convoy of 10 trucks carrying 36 metric tonnes of household items, seed and farming tools left Monrovia for Zwedru, in south-eastern Liberia.

The supplies are being delivered as part of an ICRC project to assist the residents of Grand Gedeh County, many of whom are now returning to their homes following the crisis.

In all, 1,000 families (5,000 people) in 10 towns and villages will receive the household items, including cooking utensils, plastic buckets, sleeping mats, soap and clothing. In order to boost agricultural activities, the ICRC will also distribute bean, pepper, okra, bitter-ball and eggplant seed to 800 families, along with farming tools such as machetes, hoes, shovels, rakes and watering cans.

Most of the residents of these towns and villages fled to neighbouring Ivory Coast or hid in the bush during the first six months of the year. Recently, in order to expand assistance and protection programmes in the country, the ICRC opened two new sub-delegations in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, and Voinjama, Lofa County.

As part of its work in Liberia, the ICRC supports medical facilities, runs water and sanitation projects, provides assistance for civilians, visits detainees, restores family ties, promotes international humanitarian law and cooperates with the Liberia National Red Cross Society.